Athens, GA (Dec 20, 2007) - Lydia Murphy-Stephans, a former US Olympic Team speed skater, is Executive Vice President, Programming and Production for the MSG Network and Fox Sports New York. This is her profile as published by MSG Media.

Lydia Murphy-Stephans, is Executive Vice President, Programming and Production and responsible for all of MSG and FSNY’s programming, development, acquisitions, scheduling, remote and studio productions, and technical operations and facilities.

A former Olympian with more than twenty years experience in network and cable television, Stephans came to MSG from Peace Tree Inc., a media consulting company she founded that specializes in executive producing, strategic planning, content development, programming and production.Prior to that, she enjoyed stellar careers at ABC Sports and Oxygen Media.

Stephans started her network television career at ABC Sports in 1986. While there, she served as an on-air analyst and held several positions in the production and programming departments before being named vice president of programming and acquisitions in 1993, becoming the first female vice president in the history of ABC Sports. As vice president, she was responsible for the strategic planning, acquisition, programming and scheduling of sports content for the network. Her programming portfolio included the acclaimed anthology series Wide World of Sports, as well as golf, tennis, auto racing, figure skating, gymnastics, horse racing, Olympic related sports, women’s sports and special events.

In 1999, Stephans created the entire sports operation at Oxygen Media, as president and executive producer for Sports. There, she developed and managed the sports department for Oxygen Media’s cable channel, as well as developed and implemented the strategic plan for Oxygen Media’s sports investments. In 2002, she was promoted to executive vice president of production, Oxygen Media. Stephans started her television career in 1985 in Marquette, Michigan, where she was the Senior News Producer for WLUC-TV.

A member of the U.S. National Speed Skating Team from 1976-1985, Stephans won three National Championships and several other national and international competitions. She competed in the 1984 Olympic Games in SarajevoYugoslavia, before being named head coach of the U.S. National Short Track Team in 1985. In 1994, Stephans was inducted into the Speed Skating Hall of Fame.Photograph Courtesy of MSG Media